Backstage style - la fin!

This man looks very elegant in his beautiful cape with pretty brown and white shoes that match his buttons.

I am not sure what his role was, but he asked the hairstylists some questions and had an important-looking writing board. I just liked his military jacket.

Katy looking stylish and ready to dress Anja's models with their looks around her neck

and how cute is her feather earring?

My hairstylist had some of the coolest suede fringe boots I've seen in a while.

This gentleman was very discreet with his bright orange 'dead Mickey' t-shirt

and had a necklace to match!

Lost lovers reunited!

Remember Batgirl from the Ann-Sofie Back runway show?
Well, I think I found her boyfriendBeing his bat self at Simone's on Sunday

A picture worth a thousand words

MA designers crowd around the computer Sunday night to see the just-released catwalk images!

Lovely laptop complete with artwork courtesy of Simone

Question of the day:
At what time did the picture huddle take place?

Backstage, Part Deux: Dressing the Girls

I will publish many more pre and post-show pictures throughout the week, so make sure to check back every day!

What's happening backstage?

The garment bag with my looks awaits me

The show space being prepared before the crowd arrives

TV screen backstage to watch how the show is going...
well, once it starts, that is

MUCH more to come

THE BIGGEST DAY OF THE YEAR

So which MA graduate show did I walk in last night?
...Thomas Tait!

Image credit: style.com

Thanks for the pictures Becky!

Last night was the biggest night for any Central Saint Martins student - the MA graduate show. This amazing showing from some of the most talented upcoming designers in the world consisted of 22 collections that included womenswear, menswear, knitwear and textiles. It is probably one of the most intriguing shows to watch on the fashion month circuit because you can see the students' uninhibited creative vision. They are in it to make an impression, and do not have the constraints of corporate business or pressure to produce a wearable, commercial collection that must sell.

I am so proud to have been a part of this show and was lucky enough to experience the long, challenging and emotional road the students went through to get here. As part of the MA Fashion Journalism course, I had to follow the progress of a single designer's collection from the beginning stages up to the runway show. It was a pleasure to work with Thomas Tait, whom I admire for his drive and strength of vision (not to mention his overall fabulosity).

There were the six inch heels that he lost sleep over, worrying about whether the models would be able to manage (and they did just fine). There was the "blood, sweat and tears" coat that took what seemed like hundreds of hours to perfect. The cherry on top of the cake was being able to walk in Thomas' runway show and live out what he has worked so hard for.

I think what amazed me the most in seeing the collections come together was the positive energy between the designers. Everyone was working hard to complete their work, but noone was doing it at the expense of anyone else. The designers are not only talented, but also considerate... and so much fun to get to know!

I am very proud of everyone and cannot wait to see what you do next. Congratulations to the MA Fashion class of 2010!!

She's Back...

... Ann-Sofie Back.

Last night, I got to sit front row(!) at the Ann-Sofie Back comeback show to London Fashion Week after a year off. How did I get to sit front row, you ask? Well, let's just say I was an international visitor and my name was Luka.

The theme revolved around the concept of the Internet avatar in which people can create an improved, fantasy version of themselves in the online virtual reality. I have to write a style.com-type review of the show for class Thursday, so I'll post more thoughts about it then. In the meantime, this is what Back's avatar would look like:

Is that a ...bullet lipstick headpiece?
Here's an outfit to meet the parents

Pretty shoes! Will be sold as Ann-Sofie Back for Topshop


(cheek alert, cheek alert... I did not get one)



This one seems a little more wearable... and I love the sunglasses by Sheefun

Holy cutouts, Batman!

Finale

Miss Back herself

And here is the swag I picked up from my seat:

Pretty cool!

Flip side at Sass&Bide

I went to the Sass&Bide A/W 2010 runway show last night, called Tomorrow the Great. It was the first time I ever attended a catwalk without walking in it myself, and it's ironic how effortless things look on the other side of the wall.

Sitting in your seat, you hear the loud music playing as the extravagantly styled and made up models march out, one by one. You either don't know or don't think about the madness happening backstage as the wardrobe, hair and makeup teams are scrambling to get the models ready for their next look. Five minutes later, it's all over and the show becomes appropriately described as a "fashion moment."

Having also worked as a fit model, I know the months and dozens of people around the world who contributed to designing and manufacturing the smallest detail of every garment, down to a single thread. As a spectator, all you see is the finished product and can choose to like it or not in its entirety.

SO BACK TO Sass&Bide... here is the invitation to the show. You can't really tell, but the invitation is actually a horn-shaped mirror with the words printed on top. Which might explain why my friend Rachel was using it to fix her lipstick before going into the show.

I think the horn shape is supposed to represent a graphic version of these gold bags:

Some other pictures from the show -

La Fin!